California
Decades of public education, advocacy and political leadership on marriage in California led to the California Supreme Court ruling in May 2008 on In Re: Marriage Cases to uphold the freedom to marry. In subsequent months, an estimated 18,000 gay couples were married in virtually every county of the state. Unfortunately, Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment designed to supersede the court, narrowly passed in the November 2008 election and gay couples can no longer marry in California.
Work is underway to restore the freedom to marry in California, including both public education to build a majority of support, and the federal Perry v. Schwarzenegger case to overturn Prop 8 which was decided on August 4, 2010 by District Court Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker. The ruling found that the amendment to the California Constitution barring marriage for same-sex couples violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection and due process. Judge Walker lifted a temporary stay on his ruling, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay, meaning same-sex couples currently cannot marry in California while the case is appealed. Oral arguments are set for the week of December 6, 2010.
Status: Broad Domestic Partnership, Anti-Marriage Constitutional Amendment
Groups Actively Working on Marriage
Equality California: the largest LGBT advocacy organization in California
Vote for Equality/the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center: an organization working to advance the freedom to marry through grassroots action, voter education, and leadership development
Let California Ring: a public education campaign to open hearts and minds about the freedom to marry in California
Marriage Equality U.S.A (MEUSA): a grassroots organization based in CA working for federal and state marriage equality
Courage Campaign: an online organizing network that empowers grassroots and netroots activists to push for progressive change in California
California Faith for Equality: a group bringing together clergy and lay leaders throughout California who support equality for LGBT people
Blog Posts Related to California
11 State Democratic Party Chairs endorse freedom to marry plank
Today 11 State Democratic Party chairs from across the country joined in support of a freedom to marry plank in the party’s national platform. The chairs include John Burton (CA), Jay Jacobs (NY), John Walsh (MA), Ken Martin (MN), Meredith Wood Smith (OR), Boyd Richie (TX), Jake Perkinson (VT), Mike Tate (WI), Dwight Pelz (WA), Jon Wisniewski (NJ), and Joan Wagnon (KS).
Sacramento Mayor joins Mayors for the Freedom to Marry
After receiving hundreds of constituent signatures from a Change.org petition and meeting with local activists, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has joined Mayors for the Freedom to Marry.
22 Senators endorse freedom to marry plank in 2012 National Democratic Platform
Today, the Washington Blade reported that 22 senators have joined a growing number of politicians and advocates who have endorsed including a freedom to marry plank in the Democratic Party’s 2012 national platform.
Resources Related to California
Latino Support for the Freedom to Marry
Recent public opinion data show that Latinos – especially Latino Catholics – widely favor the freedom to marry, both nationwide and in key states.
Poll: Majority of Californians Continue to Support the Freedom to Marry
A Public Policy Polling survey found a majority of California voters in support of the freedom to marry.
Testimony: Nancy F. Cott Defends Equal Marriage Rights
An article adapted from Harvard Professor Nancy F. Cott’s expert report submitted in the case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.